Sin is in the camp: Duty of elders AND laypersons.
The story in Joshua 7 where Achan's sin caused defeat and death for Israel in invading the territory of Ai shows us how the cursed thing that was taken from Jericho which was destroyed with God's help in Joshua 6 suddenly affected the Lord granting victory.
1 Corinthians 5 also discusses heinous sin in the midst of the church with a man with his father's wife. The fact that something that extreme could be tolerated is shocking in the early church; but shows us how we ARE to judge things in the house of God.
This is where the gift of discernment comes in. I can only speak for myself experientially; but when I sense something is wrong; specifically an evil spirit affecting someone then usually God reveals the sin to corroborate things; at that point someone is duty bound to warn a brother or sister to repent. I cannot think of any time that I have tried to uncover things; if the Lord doesn't show me something sometimes the person themselves says something or someone else may mention it. As with the Corinthians passage it is usually sexual sin of some sort. What many don't realize is in the spiritual realm things CAN affect other people; at the very least the spirit is quenched because of influences a person has that they may or may not realize that is driving them to sin. For Paul in this case to deliberately be removed so that Satan can be allowed to decimate him yet his spirit saved in the end; this man apparently in 2 Corinthians 2:5-11 that man did repent.
My current church contains a number of people who faithfully visit; transport and minister to elderly members as well as those confined at home (mainly older demographics). These are all people in their fifties and sixties; probably a few younger folks getting more involved would be good. I suppose some have the gift of compassion or mercy. As important as it is to know your gifts; we all should bear good fruit and practice what we preach.
The story in Joshua 7 where Achan's sin caused defeat and death for Israel in invading the territory of Ai shows us how the cursed thing that was taken from Jericho which was destroyed with God's help in Joshua 6 suddenly affected the Lord granting victory.
1 Corinthians 5 also discusses heinous sin in the midst of the church with a man with his father's wife. The fact that something that extreme could be tolerated is shocking in the early church; but shows us how we ARE to judge things in the house of God.
This is where the gift of discernment comes in. I can only speak for myself experientially; but when I sense something is wrong; specifically an evil spirit affecting someone then usually God reveals the sin to corroborate things; at that point someone is duty bound to warn a brother or sister to repent. I cannot think of any time that I have tried to uncover things; if the Lord doesn't show me something sometimes the person themselves says something or someone else may mention it. As with the Corinthians passage it is usually sexual sin of some sort. What many don't realize is in the spiritual realm things CAN affect other people; at the very least the spirit is quenched because of influences a person has that they may or may not realize that is driving them to sin. For Paul in this case to deliberately be removed so that Satan can be allowed to decimate him yet his spirit saved in the end; this man apparently in 2 Corinthians 2:5-11 that man did repent.
My current church contains a number of people who faithfully visit; transport and minister to elderly members as well as those confined at home (mainly older demographics). These are all people in their fifties and sixties; probably a few younger folks getting more involved would be good. I suppose some have the gift of compassion or mercy. As important as it is to know your gifts; we all should bear good fruit and practice what we preach.
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